This isn't the first time I've hear of this type of behavior from locals.
In fact, I was just surveying some land for a guy who has a locked gate across a public access road through private property to access National Forest, about an hour or so past Winter Park on 40. Turns out he is actually selling access to out of state hunters through his property. Seems really shady to me. I've been meaning to speak to the rangers in that district about it.